Category Selected: Insights

I spent a few years of my early career working in an organization chock full of pension actuaries; if you ever need a good actuary joke, just ask. Here's one: Q: “How many actuaries does it take to change a light bulb?” A: “I don’t know. How many did it…

A few years ago I was asked to participate in a breakout session pitting a bunch of entrepreneurial Silicon Valley marketers in the same room against some serious Fortune 500 CMO-types. They were mutually terrified of one another, and it ended up being an enlightening few hours. Looking back, I…

Five years ago, hot on the heels of some significant global rebranding work and regional talent branding successes, I wrote a book titled "Brand and Talent." While it was certainly not the only book that advocated a total purpose-driven, integrated approach to strategic management of brand, business and human capital, it…

In our last article we explored the question of whether press releases make sense in a media landscape fractured by new platforms and new channels for audience engagement. The short answer, we believe, is that press releases still have a place in your mix of PR tactics. That said, there…

In 1906 the Pennsylvania Railroad issued the world’s first press release, inviting reporters to cover a catastrophic train wreck in Atlantic City. For a century afterward, the press release remained the best way to generate widespread media coverage of your organization’s news. And media coverage mattered. But in today’s environment…

It’s that time of year again when college students leave the hallowed halls of academia and enter, albeit briefly, the rough-and-tumble professional world to which they someday aspire. It is, in other words, the season of the summer intern. PartnersCreative believes strongly in the power of the intern (learn about…

As social media goes, this week has been a rough one for Facebook following its mea culpa that 87 million users' data was harvested furtively by Cambridge Analytica. On Tuesday, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg exchanged his signature hoodie for a business suit and tie to explain to Congress what went…

“These areas, like the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, allow you to discover so much about yourself.” Last week I sat down with Nate Bender, an assistant account executive at PartnersCreative, to discuss his background and his decision to tackle a monstrous Montana challenge. But what is the challenge really? And how is…

“Anybody can go out in wilderness areas or other public lands and learn something new and surprising about themselves.” Imagine trekking 85 miles while climbing 27 peaks in Montana’s wild, public lands — not crossing a single road for days, bushwhacking down mountainsides without an established trail in sight, scrambling…

From the desk of a data storyteller: Part II Since beginning my internship with PartnersCreative, I keep getting asked what I do at the agency. My typical response of, “I help monitor and optimize SEM campaigns,” is often met with a blank expression. When “What is SEM?” follows my statement…